In a much-needed update to 2003 data on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a new report from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) has found that an estimated 15.5 million US adults are living with the condition – and many are being let down by poor access to treatment. In the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-led NCHS report, featuring data collected from 7,046 Americans throughout October and November last year, nearly 56% of respondents had been diagnosed with ADHD as adults.
The increase in adult diagnosis is multifaceted – from increased telehealth and clinical access to seeking a diagnosis, to a growing awareness that ADHD symptoms had been missed or masked, or misdiagnosed, in childhood. "Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic (i.e.
, March 2020), approximately one third of adults with current ADHD used telehealth to obtain a prescription for ADHD medication (30.5%) or to receive counseling or therapy for ADHD (30.8%)," the survey's authors noted in the report.
However, the survey also reveals how the current system is failing most who manage to get a diagnosis. It's estimated that only a third of the 15.5 million people – around 6% of the US adult population – have obtained a prescription for medication to treat their ADHD.
What's more, of that third, the study estimates that three quarters had endured difficulties in accessing the medication due to ongoing supply issues. In September 2024, the (DEA) announced it would per.